TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV DENIES REPORTS OF GAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000715

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET ENRG IR TU TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV DENIES REPORTS OF GAS
SALES TO TURKEY VIA IRAN

REF: A. STATE 99411


B. ANKARA 1809

ASHGABAT 00000715 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland fo
r reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan,s Deputy Chairman of the
Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov
firmly denied reports that Turkmenistan plans to sell natural
gas via Iran to Turkey and onward to Europe. He said, &Our
relationship with the United States is very important. We
would never do something like this without prior consultation
with you.8 While his denial seemed categorical, unanswered
questions remain. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Charge d,affaires met with Foreign Minister Meredov
on July 19, just after he had returned with President
Berdimuhamedov from a state visit to China, and delivered
talking points in reftel A.


3. (C) Looking taken aback at first, then distinctly amused,
Meredov flatly denied Turkmenistan plans to supply natural
gas to Europe via Iran. He said he had noticed the same
press reports about such a preliminary agreement that had
probably stimulated this demarche, but the Charge should know
press reports are not always reliable sources. Charge
assured Meredov our sources were not press reports (REF B),
and that we take this information very seriously.


4. (C) Meredov insisted, &How can there be such an alleged
agreement when there have been no official meetings or even
official consultations with the supplier, us? We would never
make such an arrangement without extensive official
consultation.8 (NOTE: Presumably with Iranian and Turkish
officials. END NOTE.)


5. (SBU) In response to the points about UN Security Council
resolutions, Meredov noted Turkmenistan is a member of the UN
and takes its international responsibilities with utmost
seriousness.


6. (C) &At the same time,8 he said, &Iran is our
neighbor. We share a 1,500 km border. We share a common
history. Iranians are our ancestors. We have to have
normal, good relations with such a neighbor.8 Charge
assured Meredov the United States understands Turkmenistan,s
need for normal relations with such a neighbor.


7. (C) Summing up, Meredov said: &Understand one thing.
We are an independent and sovereign state that independently
establishes its policies in all areas, including energy. We
will decide for ourselves to and through which countries we
will sell our gas.8 Meredov said he would study the
demarche points closely, which Charge left as a non-paper in
English and Russian.


8. (C) Following the meeting with Meredov, Americas Desk
Director Serdar Bashimov pulled the Charge aside to emphasize
Meredov was telling the truth. He said, &Turkmenistan,s
new relationship with the United States is too important to
jeopardize with a significant issue like this.8


ASHGABAT 00000715 002.2 OF 002



9. (C) COMMENT: While Meredov seemed sincere and restated
his points several times, several anomalies remain. We note,
first, his emphasis at least twice that our sources must be
erroneous or fabricated press reports, even though we
repeatedly made clear our sources were Turkish government and
Turkish energy industry officials. Second, Turkmenistan
always emphasizes its policy of selling its gas at its
border, and what happens to it after that is not its
business. Third, according to recent press reports,
Turkmenistan may double its natural gas exports to Iran this
year. This meeting with Meredov may not be our last
conversation on this issue. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND